CVrious Gentlemen, that ſpend your time and take pleaſure to recreate your ſpirits with the conſideration of the Tragedies that are acted vpon the Theater of this World; I cannot be perſwaded but that you haue heretofore read that which learned Aeſope rehearſeth in his Fables, of certain Hares, who running away when they heard the hounds open, by chance paſt along by the ſide of a ditch, where there were great ſtore of frogs vpon the graſſe, who as ſoone as they ſaw the hares, leapt as faſt as they could into the water. This action being noted by the timorous hares, did in ſuch maner encourage them, that the ſame onely ſufficed to make them ſtay their running any further; at which time, one of them (who it may be had ſtudied the French eloquence, practiſed by Maſter William du Vair) told them, that from thence forward it behoued them to eſteeme more of their valours then euer they had done before; that it was a ſhame for them alwayes to haue bin held & eſteemed to be fearfull, and a ſigne of reprochfull daſtardlineſſe vnto their aunceſtors, continually to haue vſed to runne away, and neuer durſt looke in their enemies faces, ſeeing they were capable to ouercome and ſubdue others, as they might well perceiue by experience of theſe croaking frogs, whoſe onely preſence had put them 〈◊…〉 , without any ſtroke given.

〈◊…〉 his notable oration, (as plauſibly pronounced, as that which my Lord Conſtable made to thoſe of Thoulonze) ſo much encouraged his companions, that preſently they reſolved, not to ſet vpon Montaubon, but in time to come to ſhew themſelues more valiant, and to magnifie and exalt their generoſitie, and from thenceforward determined to act ſome glorious enterpriſe againſt thoſe accurſed hounds, and to turne their faces againſt their enemies to aſſaile them: which counſell put in execution, tooke ſo bad effect, and fell out ſo vnfortunately for the authors thereof, that thereby they were not onely taken, but torne in peeces, to ſerve for a prey unto their enemies, and a jeſt unto other more judicious and ſubtill beaſts.

This fable, in my opinion, may properly be applied unto the levying of armes at this time, whereinto ſo improvidently we have bin led by the plauſible inducements of certaine prating companions, that have ſo much advanced and magnified the Favourite Hares, that they have made them to buſie their braines about the ambitious reach of their prowd fortunes.

Every man knowes what diſcontentment the great perſonages of this Realme have had, to beholde the Crowne of France within theſe foure yeares to be as it were beſieged by Luynes and his brethren; who to the great prejudice of the Kings affaires and the Commonwealth, abſolutely diſpoſed both of the ordinarie and caſuall matters of State, to the great deſolation of the whole monarchie: which to oppoſe and prevent, the greateſt part of the Princes and principall Officers of the Realme in Anno 1620. made a kinde of league. But the number of the Leaguers being extreme great, the buſineſſe could not be ſo ſecurely managed as the caſe required: whereupon it fell out ſo, that it was preſently diſcovered, by the infidelitie of certaine perſons that betrayed them. In purſuite whereof, the vanquiſhers had the victorie without combat, and the vanquiſhed ouerthrew themſelues.

Now appropriating the ſence of this fable to my preſent diſcourſe, I muſt tell you that my Maſters the Favorite Hares, the laſt yeare being made afraid and abaſhed with the apprehenſion that they conceived of ſo many yong Princes that ſought to overthrow and croſſe their inſolent fortune, they were conſtrained to abandon the delights of the Court, to ſeeke and finde out ſome meanes to ſhadow and cover themſelves from the great tempeſt which as then ſeemed to menace them. And ſo ſhaking and trembling with feare, they went into Normandie, where by good fortune they met with certaine people, that like true frogs, hid themſelves in the reedes, at the noiſe of their horſes feete. Which made the Favorites ſet up their eares, and from that time forwards to conceive a wonderfull opinion of their affaires. But when they entred into the medowes in Angers, and perceived that at their onely preſence, the frogs of Pont de See ſlipt downe from off the bridge of Pont to hide themſelves in the water, they did then begin upon that occaſion to conceive ſo great an opinion of their valours, that they were of the minde preſently in a maner to ſet forward to fight againſt the great Turke, without once ſtaying till the Duke de Nevers veſſels were made readie, or the new Knights of the Chriſtian warre were prepared to fight, imagining themſelves to be three Caeſars, able to overcome and rule over all men, whereupon they reſolved to lay hold vpon all occaſions, and to command all, and ſo farre, as to preſume to make, not onely the Princes of the blood, but alſo the Regall authoritie, to ſerve them for a footſtoole or a ſtep unto their greatneſſe.

Whereupon our neighbours (hauing Argus eyes) being alwayes vigilant, and neuer ſleepe, and with their ſpectacles continually beholding our proceedings, to draw ſome profit from thence, accommodating them to the intereſt of their affaires, perceiving the haughty deſeignes of the Favorite Hares; and that the pride which they conceived in their hearts of thoſe ridiculous victories, was available to thruſt them forward and embarke them into ſome great enterpriſe, how dangerous ſoever it were, ſo the perill that ſhould be miniſtred were well gilded over: they adviſed with themſelves that a civill warre in France would fall out well to the purpoſe, to be a meanes for them to attaine to the end of the Germane revolts, and of the vſurpation which they pretended to make vpon the Palatinate, Inlliers and Valtolina.

And to make them the more eagerly and eaſily to catch at the baite, they practiſed to re-aſſemble all the old rags and peeces of the holy league, therewith to make a faire cloake of religion, finely ſowed by the fathers of the Ieſuiticall ſocietie, and thereof to make a rich preſent unto the eldeſt Favorite, ſhewing him what a glorie it would be vnto him to weare the ſame, as in times paſt a certaine Duke of Guiſe had done; and that the onely way for him, without any trouble to attaine the Conſtables office, was to gild the ſcabberd of his ſword with the ſpoiles of the fooliſh hare-braind heretickes, without ſpeaking of the great ſummes of mony that he might by that meanes levie of the people, vnder pretence of ſo pious a quarrell, as that of religion would be; beſides the hazard that he incurred to be canonized, according to the ordinarie maner, with the Cardinals de Ioyenſe, and the Earle de Fieſque.

This glorious advice, preſented with as plauſible words as thoſe of father Cotton, moved our new warriers to a deſire and great appetite to be doing ſomewhat: and their deſeigne was preſently confirmed by the Archbiſhop of Sens, and the Keeper of the Seales, to whom were ſhewed red Hats, woven by the hand of an Archangell, with a letter written by Pontchartrain, containing an aſſurance that thoſe Hats were for them: for the which the Cardinals de la Rochefoucault and de Rets were ſureties, upon the certificate of father Berule, and of the Marquis de Maignelay.

Touching the execution of the ruin of the heretickes, it was ſolemnly ſworne by a Catholick Councell holden in Fontainebleau by divers great perſons of the Realme, where the future Conſtable ſat as Preſident, apparelled like another Alexander, holding a ſword of damaske of Genes in his hand, about the which was graven, He that kils with the ſword, ſhall die by the ſheath. Now with more eaſe to bring this enterpriſe to effect, Luynes like an expert falconer, eſteemed it requifite for him to haue a Duke to draw the ſimpler ſort of birds to the lure: and for that certaine yeares together he had fixed both his eyes upon the office of Conſtable, although long before hee had made an offer thereof to the Duke de Leſdiguieres, to ſee what the great perſonages would ſay to the reeſtabliſhment of that office; he purpoſed to renew that propoſition unto him againe, and cauſed him to come to the Court, not with an intent to honour him with that dignitie, but on the contrary, to make him deſiſt from it, for his owne advantage, and ciuilly to hold him as a priſoner, by his wives meanes, who vnder pretence of ſome particular profit, hath expoſed her husbands honour to the open view of the world. Thus the ſaid Lord Marſhall being fallen into the nets that were laid abroad for him, preſently father Arnoux was ſeene to ſweate water & blood, to procure the converſion of the poore Huguenots; who paying him well, he did happily bring into the lap of the Church, thereby to warme and encourage the ſpirits of thoſe that were zealous, and to animate them with more crueltie againſt the heretickes. While the Earle de Schomberg had commiſſion given unto him to furniſh a maſſe of treaſure, to defray the charges which ſhould be convenient (at what price ſoever it ſhould coſt) to ſeeke both on hils and in valleys for the band which in times paſt had ſo often and victoriouſly bin borne againſt the Saracins, that it might once againe be diſplayed in ſo holy a warre. And becauſe it could not be found, what diligent ſearch ſoeuer the fathers made, they were forced to have recourſe unto ſome other expedient thing, agreeable to the greatneſſe of that enterpriſe. And behold, for want of the banner, unexpectedly the Conſtables ſword roſe up, which Luynes had long time hidden in the breaſts of the Dukes de Guiſe, and de Mayenne, and de Leſdiguieres, from whence he puld it artificially, to lay hold on it. And it is to be noted, that the firſt time that he hung it by his ſide, he held it a while naked in his hand, admiring his owne valour, eſteeming it equall unto that of Caeſar; and without further conſideration of the difficulties of that warre, cried out for joy, and ſaid like another Alexander, Nodos virtute reſolvo, and then put the ſword into the ſcabberd, from whence it neuer came out againe, by the advice of Cadnet and de Branthe, that they might not be reproched, that one of them was more valiant then the other. In the meane time, it was reſolved to go directly to Saumur, there to do homage for that warlike ſword, to our good Ladie de Ardvilliers, for the firſt fruites of his militarie actions, to ſacrifice vnto her the breaking vp of blinde Monſieur du Pleſſis Mornays Librarie, who for that he was as ill ſighted as the Counteſſe de Moret, was deceived by the interceſſion of Villarnoud his ſonne in law; ſo it may well be ſaid, that it was the firſt match that ſet fire, not onely in the Temples of the Huguenots, du Pleſſis and les Touers, but alſo in all the Cantons of the Realme, for that upon the good ſucceſſe of the yeelding up of that place, the Favorite Hares reſolved to adde the conqueſt of S. Iohn d' Angely unto their triumphs, into the which Towne they had ſent Lo • drieres to betray his companions, and in recompence thereof they promiſed to diſcharge him of 1000 crownes yearely rent that he ought to the Treaſurer Moran, beſides 15000 crownes which they gaue him in ready mony. Thus from place to place their conqueſts extended ſo farre, till they came before Montauban, which my Lord Conſtable thought to take as eaſily as hee could take up his Ladies ſmocke, as hee made knowne by his letters ſent to diuers places, by the which he aſſured his friends, that he had ſowed ſo good corne in that accurſed place, as he made no doubt but that it would take roote. That was the cauſe that Te Deum was ſung in Boulogne, Lyons and many other places for the yeelding up thereof, grounding upon the infallible aſſurance yt ſome men had, that he would take it, becauſe he tooke all other places but onely Montauban. But therein he was not to be blamed, for he had ſent Sauuage into the Towne, who had promiſed to deliuer that Towne into his hands, as he had done Clerac: but the traitor deceiued my Lord Conſtable, and ſtanding on the walls, mockt him.

This device failing, divers batteries were erected, ſuppoſing by that meanes to put the inhabitants thereof in ſome feare. Trenches were caſt up, and furious skirmiſhes were made. Father Arnoux to encourage the ſouldiers, aſſured them by his part of Paradiſe, that all thoſe that died in ſo holy a quarrell, ſhould neuer go into Purgatorie. Whereupon euery man ſought and ſtrove to ſhew forth his valour. Branthe and Cadnet made a goodly ſhew with their great plumes of fethers, a great many of brave gentlemen were kild, and every day more and more were ſlaine.

The report of this ſiege was ſpread abroad throughout all Europe; and the late deceaſed King Henrie the fourth had newes thereof caried unto him in the Elizian fields: ſo that as when he liued he did tenderly and fatherly loue and nouriſh France; the care of the quietneſſe, together with the deſire he had to know the ſtate thereof continually vexed his ſoule. For which cauſe he ſent meſſengers into every place, to diſcover whether any French men had paſt over the river of Styx. The late Baron de Villeroy brought him newes, that by chance he had met with a Spaniard of his old acquaintance, who had told him for certaine, that the Conſtable of France had begun a glorious warre againſt the heretickes, wherein he had proceeded ſo happily, that in leſſe then two moneths he had reduced threeſcore Townes vnder his obedience, battered, taken and unwalled S. Iohn, Pont Nerac, Bergerac and Clerac, and that as then he lay before Montauban with fortie great peeces of cannon. That the Marquis de Villars and divers others had bin burnt before it, though they were no heretickes. That the Marquis de Themines and the Duke de Mayenne alſo had bin ſlaine there, beſides 400 gentlemen of name and qualitie, and aboue 15000 ſouldiers kild. That touching the raiſing up of the ſiege, he could ſay nothing, for that the reverend father Dominique de Ieſus Maria had there loſt the ſubtiltie of his revelations; and that there was none but the Duke de Branthe, the Duke de Cadmet, and the Duke de Luynes that were capable to take it: but they were not men to expoſe their bodies in all enterpriſes, becauſe of the importance of their perſons.

Are they Spaniards? ſaid the King. They are, ſaid Villeroy, the onely faithfull Counſellers to the King your ſon, by whoſe advice all the Realme is governed. Wherewith King Henrie the fourth ſcratching his head, ſtood as if he had bin in a dreame, and ſtaying a great while without ſpeaking a word, at laſt ſighing with a ſad countenance and ſorrowfull voice, he ſaid: Alas, now I ſee well that theſe men by litle and litle will vndoe my ſonne, and that that which my enemies could not do while I lived, they will enforce themſelues to effect it in his life time, by the meanes of thoſe three petie Kings. Let ſearch be made in every place, to kuow if there be any of my old ſervants to be found, among all thoſe that have bin kild before S. Iohn, Clerac and Montauban, that I may diſcourſe with them touching thoſe lamentable things that are done in my poore countrey of France.

Truly, ſaid the Chancellor de Belieure, euen now I ſaw almoſt 20000 perſons of all ſorts and qualities, which ſtand on the other ſide of the river of Stix, deſiring to paſſe over; but the Boate-man Caron refuſed them all, vntill they have bin purged in the 〈◊〉 of Purgatorie. They maintaining and conſtantly aff ••… ing, that they were exempted from it, becauſe they ha •… • oſt their lives before the heretiks forts, according to the aſſurance given them in the other world, by the Ieſuites • f Thoulouſe and Bourdeaux, and namely by father Ruſſelay.

That grieves me much, ſaid the King, I could be content to haue given 100000 crownes to marry the Nunnes in Paris, vpon condition that this contention were ended, I haue ſo great a deſire to ſee ſome one Frenchman or other, that might eaſe me of my care, for the apprehenſion that I haue conceived of the troubles of the King my ſon, of the Queene my wife, and of my children.

Therewith the Baron de Liencourt ſtept forth and ſaid to the King: Sir, your Grace is much troubled to know the truth of the affaires in the other world, you need but direct your ſelfe vnto ſome Ieſuites, for they haue letters from all places. I came but now from ſpeaking with father Gontrie, hee cannot chuſe but know ſomething; if you will haue me enquire of him, it may be my wife hath written him a word or two thereof. No, no, ſaid Samet, thoſe kind of people are too craftie and ſubtill, the truth neuer comes directly out of their mouthes, you ſhal know nothing that way; I know a better way, Caron the boatman is my friend, he and I haue many times dranke together, I will deale ſo well with him, that for my ſake he ſhall not make difficultie to ſuffer ſome Frenchmen (upon my recommendation) to paſſe over, or elſe let me go over to them, to heare what they can ſay touching your Graces deſire. Venture S. Gry, ſaid the King, your invention is very good. Wherewith M. Guilliaume, who in the meane time ſtood attentively to heare that diſcourſe, began to ſay unto the King: My Lord, if you thinke it good, I will gladly beare Sebaſtian Zamet companie, and will aide him finely to paſſe over, as the ſuccours did into Montauban, while he ſtands ſpeaking with old Caron, and then I will ſpeedily make a journey to Louviers, to know how • ll fares there, and whether the Normands are well co ••… t to be bowles of Quillibeuf, in recompence of their ſervice. I will not have you ſtirre from thence, ſaid the King, you ſhall ſtand ſentinell on the South ſide, and onely marke when the Archduke Albertus ſhall leane off his Monks cowle. Zamet diſpatched away, went to the river ſide, where being arived, he heard newes that the Cardinall de Guiſe was come thither with buls, to cauſe all thoſe to paſſe over, that died as he did in that holy warre, but that there was ſome diſpute happened among thoſe that ſtayed to paſſe over; for which cauſe Caron would not let them paſſe, for feare leſt they ſhould fight together while they were in his boate. Thereupon Zamet to further the buſineſſe, gaue his advice, that it was convenient to ſprinkle all thoſe that quarelled together, with water of oblivion, before they entred into the boate, that ſo forgetting their quarels, they might paſſe over peaceably. This counſell was inſtantly followed; but as things are full of croſſes, another controverſie hapned after that, betweene the ſaid Cardinall and the Duke de Mayenne, who ſhould firſt go into the boate. The ſtrife was long, which much diſpleaſed Zamet, becauſe it ſtaid him from returning backe unto the King. The diſpute was maintained by reaſons on either ſide. The Cardinall ſaid, he died firſt, and by conſequence yt he ought to go firſt. The Duke denied not that, but ſaid, hee was to be preferred before him, becauſe he had bin ſlaine in the Kings ſervice, and that the Cardinal died onely of ſicknes. The Cardinall replied, that for Gods ſake he had abandoned both wife and children; and to proue it, deſired no other witnes but the Duke de Nevers; and that he had not done ſo. At laſt they ſtood vpon the difference of their degrees and qualities; and for that the Church alwayes hath the preheminence, it was iudged that the Cardinall ſhould enter firſt into the boate, as alſo becauſe he had brought the buls to free them to paſſe over the river, without going into Purgatorie; and ſo all of them paſt over with this decree, that thoſe who thereafter ſhould come from the ſiege of Montauban, ſhould enioy the like priviledge.

When they were ſet on ſhore on the banks of the Elizian fields, Zamet recived and ſaluted them, with both his arms about their middles, jeſting and ſporting with them, and aſſuring them that King Henrie the great would be exceeding glad to ſee them, becauſe of the deſire he had to vnderſtand the ſtate of the affaires of France.

The impatience that troubled the ſpirit of that good Prince, had moved him to walke with the greateſt part of his old ſervitors to the ſide of the riuer, to meete with Zamet the late Baron de la Guiche, becauſe he was very tall, was he that firſt afarre off diſcouered that French troupe, and ſaid to the King S. Fiacre: Sir, I thinke theſe are the men of Montauban before vs, they are a great number, I wonder how ſo many brave men have ſuffred themſelves to be made neſtle-birds; you will ſay, that it is a great armie, and I marvell that your Majeſtie doth not ſee the foule duſt which they cauſe to riſe up into the aire with their feete. I perceive it well, ſaid the King, let us ſtay here for them; in the meane time take your proſpective glaſſe (as the Conſtable did at Piquerox) the better to know them afarre off.

And as the King walked ſomewhat aſide, the Marſhall d' Aumont ſaid: Sir, we ſhall ſpeedily heare ſome newes, for I ſee a carrabin among the mirtle trees, that runs as faſt as he can, to get before his fellowes; he ſeemes to be ſome harbinger or quarter maſter, that ſeekes to come to the campe before the reſt, that he may take vp the beſt lodging: but coming nearer, they knew him to be a Ieſuite, that was ſent in great haſte by his Generall, to perſwade the King, not to beleeue all that ſhould be told him touching the lamentable ſtate whereinto the affaires of France are now reduced: and he was no ſooner come to the King, but on the other ſide Hautefontaine ſuddenly was at his heeles, who had ſlipt out of the company, that he might excuſe himſelfe touching the miſerable diſorder hapned in S. Iohn d' Angely. And as ſoone as he ſpied the Ieſuite, he ſuddenly cried out, and ſaid: What doth this Ianniſarie here? doth it not ſuffice his Societie to haue ſupported the authors of the diuiſion between the mother and the ſonne, but muſt he come hither alſo, to trouble and diſturbe the peace of the bleſſed? What noiſe is that which I heare, ſaid the King? Varenne made anſwer: It is Hautefontaine that quarrels with this good father which even now came to your Majeſtie. Hautefontaine, ſaid the King, bid him come hither that I may ſpeake with him. Who coming to the King-preſence, he asked him, who had ſent him into theſe quarters? By the Lord, Sir, (excuſe me, ſaid he, if I do not ſweare as the Huguenots do, for I am angrie) I am not come hither for mine owne pleaſure, it is true that I make no account of my life, but I am halfe mad to ſee this Spaniſh Ianniſarie preſume to ſpeake unto you, after they have dealt with you as they have done, and Catholikly ſet fire in the foure quarters of your ſonnes Realme. Why do you call them Ianniſaries, ſaid the King? Do not you know, ſaid Hautefontaine, yt the Turks Ianiſaries haue neither father nor native country, acknowledging no Lord but the great Turke: ſo the Ieſuites neither reſpect their country nor their parents, but onely bend their mindes and all their ſtudies to accompliſh the will and deſire of Yo el Rey, their Soveraigne Lord; and the better to effect his will and pleaſure they haue troubled all Chriſtendome, and are the cauſe of the death of all theſe brave Knights which are now coming hither to your Majeſtie.

The King looking backe ſaw all thoſe that had paſt over the river, who all together began to kneele downe. Are theſe moale-catchers or takers of Montauban, ſaid the late Admiral d' Anvile? The King therwith ſharply reproved him, ſaying, Hold you your peace, this is no ſpectacle to be laught at; and therewith his heart was ſo much grieved, that he could hardly ſpeake, yet he refrained not to entertain them friendly; and then particularly embracing the Cardinall de Guiſe, the Duke de Mayenne, and the reſt of the Lords, he prayed them to go and reſt themſelves; and hauing eaſed their bodies awhile, he would conferre with them at leiſure; and therewith he commanded Zamet to entertain them wel, and ſo drew himſelf aſide with his moſt confident friends untill the next day. While the King ſpake unto them, Hautefontaine ſtood talking with Beringhen touching the motives of the ſecret myſteries of Bearn, and entred into ſo profound a diſcourſe with him, that they paſt over a great part of the night therein. At laſt the King deſiring to take ſome reſt, asked for Beringhen; and anſwer being made, That he was without, walking with Hautefontaine. He commanded that they ſhould both come to him. And turning to Hautefonte, he asked him, what occaſions had moved them to rebell againſt the King his ſonne? ſaying hide nothing from me, but ſpeake boldly like a true Huguenot. Sir ſaid he, if I ſhould die once againe by a musket ſhot at me from the wall by a falſe brother of the companie, I will tell you our affaires truly how they paſt, and wil not lie in any point. It is long time ſince we perceived that the Spaniard doubting the end of the truce betweene him and the Hollanders, and that for the good of his affairs he ſought to trouble France by ſome civill warre, finding no better meanes then to make us wrangle among our ſelves with blowes of Pater noſters and Clement Marots Pſalms, his device from yt time effected what it could; and to give us matter and ſubject to enter into the field, many things which your Majeſtie had formerly granted unto us by your Edicts, were denied us. The affaires of Bearn were brought in queſtion, as a countrey neare bordering upon Spaine; his principall agents there diſperſed a certaine quantitie of Medales, for marks of Catholikes, on the backe ſide having Iulius ſecundus.

The Marquis d' Ancre was no ſooner ſlaine, but du Vair Keeper of the Seales, author of the aſſembly of ſpeciall perſons, holden in Roane in the beginning of an. 1618. cauſed that notable decree of the privie Councell for the reſtoring of the temporall goods and lands unto the ſpirituall perſons in Bearn to be pronounced; but the great difficulties touching this reſtitution, cauſed the execution thereof to be delayed. The Spaniard, that ſtil ſought to ſet fire on France, cauſed the Biſhop to trot up and downe Paris, to have an end and order of their ſuite. Thereupon our Miniſters made a generall aſſembly in Loudun, in the meane time we were undermined by all the malcontents in the Realme, but yet they could not win us in any ſort to eſtrange our ſelves from the fidelitie which we owe unto our King. Luynes and his brethren fearing leſt we ſhould make a ſcape, promiſed us in the Kings name, that within ſix moneths the ſpeciall points of our complaints ſhould be anſwered, and that in the meane time nothing ſhould be innovated in the country of Bearn. Vpon this aſſurāce we brake up our aſſembly, with promiſe by word of mouth that we ſhould have leave to reaſſemble if that were not performed within the ſaid time which was promiſed unto us. But that word was not held with us, but on the contrary we were mockt; and without ſtaying till the ſix moneths were expired, your old ſervant de la Salle was driven out of Navarrens and at the ſame •• me the Ieſuites were eſtabliſhed in P 〈◊…〉 hereupon w • preſented our moſt humble ſupplications to the King your ſonne, and in ſtead of an anſwer thereunto, we had a flat deniall. Whereupon wee aſſembled the Deputies to renew our complaint, but without giuing them audience, we were proclaimed Traitors. Then we ſaw all the Tranſmontaine faction to ariſe; and the better to diſguiſe the action, in ſtead of ſpeaking openly againſt the heretickes, becauſe that would have ſavoured too much of the old league, it was reported in all places that we were not good common wealths men, and that we had called the virgin Marie, la Guimbard, thereby to move all the Catholicks vnder that pretence to ſeeke revenge againſt all thoſe that aided you againſt the leaguers. And in truth, Sir, your Majeſtie may well note and perceive, and ſo may all good Frenchmen likewiſe, that they have aſſailed and ſpoiled none but thoſe Townes which in time paſt ſerved your Majeſtie for a retraict in the time of your greateſt troubles, witnes S. Iohn, Nerac, Clerac, and the Towne Burbon de Montauban, which beares the name of your houſe, to ſhew how much they that cauſed it to be built, were affected to your blood. This in few words, Sir, is the hiſtory of France and Spaine.

I haue heard you well, ſaid the King, but who thruſt Luynes forward to deſtroy that which I haue made? A deſigne to make himſelfe great by our ruines, and the decay of your ſtate, ſaid Hautefontaine. There is a great apparence thereof, ſaid the King; call Vair unto me, ſaid he, let me heare his reaſons; Beaulide-ruze go you and ſeeke him out. That's to no end, ſaid the Marſhall d' Ornano, for I haue heard that he is out of his wits for griefe that he had to have bin ſo unfortunate, that he could not be at the funerall of the Chancellor de Sillery. Let that Stoick ſchool-maſter to Veron alone, you have all theſe Lords and Gentlemen here, Sir, who will truly and plainly tell you the truth of the deſolations of France, to morrow in the morning, ſaluting your Grace, they will let you know more, then you would know. You ſay true, ſaid the King. The next day the Marquis de Termes was the firſt that ſhewed himſelfe when the King came out of his chamber, who with a ſmiling countenance bad him welcome, and then asked him for Monſieur le Grand, and what Lords and gentlemen had paſt over the river with the Duke de Mayenne, as alſo how many men were ſlaine in thoſe brave enterpriſes made by the bucklers of France.

Sir, ſaid the Marquis, my brother hath alwayes bin a moſt humble ſervant to your Majeſtie, and ſo he is ſtill unto the King your ſonne, and to all the blood Royall▪ Luynes hath put him backe from deling with the affaires of the State, and therefore he meddles not therewith. Touching thoſe that came with the Duke de Mayenne, they are 400 gentlemen of good qualitie, and about 2000 ſouldiers.

Shew me particularly the originall of ſo many miſchiefes? Sir, ſaid he, the pride of three Falconers, whom you placed about your ſonne upon the recommendation of Varenne, who ſtands there behind you, are and will be the cauſe of the diſſipation of your Crowne, they haue won the King your ſonnes fauour, they do not tell him of the affaires of his Realmes, but cleane contrary, and as they would have him know it; they have cleane altered the whole Court; the Court is filled with their brethren, brothers and ſiſters in law, nephewes, nieces, couſins and allies, and all ſorts of raſcals, having driven out all your old ſervitors, and thoſe of the Queene mother, it being moſt true, that no man (what, or whoſoeuer) can haue acceſſe to his Maieſtie, but onely by their meanes; they keepe the Prince brother to the King your ſonne, as their ſervant; they haue laid hold upon the forces of the State, drawne the treaſures thereof cleane drie, and in a word they governe all. What, ſaid the King, doe not the Councell ſpeake againſt thoſe diſorders? In truth, Sir, ſaid de Termes, they have changed both the Councel and the Counſellors. Doth my wife endure that? why doth ſhe not oppoſe her ſelfe againſt it? ſaid the King. Oppoſe againſt it, ſaid the Marquis; if ſhe ſhould but once opē her mouth to ſpeake againſt it, they would preſently clap her up in hold, like the Deſcomans. You ieſt, ſaid the King; if I were ſhe, I would let them know that I am the Queenemother. Alas, Sir, ſaid the Marquis, if you knew how they have uſed her within theſe foure yeares and a halfe, there is no ſlave but wold rather enjoy his condition then hers; they have driven her ſhamefully out of Paris, they limited her two yeares together to ſtay in the caſtle of Blois, they purſued her by force of armes, they haue made her follow their armie like a Lanceknights wife; to conclude, they haue in ſuch maner made her ſubiect to their dominion, that ſhe dares not once complain of the rigor which they vſe againſt her. Doth the King my ſonne know that? ſaid the King. No, Sir, ſaid the Marquis, they are warie enough to let him know it; on the contrary, they ſeeke all the meanes they can to divert from her all the good affection that the King beares unto her, ſtill whiſpering him in the eare, that ſhe hates him, that ſhe ſeekes to make his brother King, that ſhe is an Italian, and other diabolicall inventions to feare him, without once putting him in minde that ſhe is his mother, or what love ſhe doth beare unto him in that reſpect. Thoſe are three villanies, ſaid the King, I would that Rapin had them under his hands in the place of execution: but I wonder why the Pope doth not take on him to ſtop the courſes of ſuch ſowers of diuiſion betweene the mother and the ſonne; it would be a great good for Chriſtendome, and an honour unto him. It is hard, ſaid the Marquis, to make an anſwer thereunto, Sir; yet I wil ſhew you what I have heard from father Raude a Charterux Monke, a great friend to our houſe, your Maieſtie ſhall underſtand, if it pleaſe you, that at ſuch time as thoſe three brethren uſurped upon the authoritie Royall, they alſo ioyned with the body of the Societie of the name of Ieſus for two cauſes, and the Ieſuites for two cauſes entred into league with them. Luynes uſeth their helpe, to get in the mony belonging to the Marquis d' Ancre, which was in the Mount de Prete in Rome, and in requitall thereof he promiſed to reeſtabliſh them in their colledge in Paris, in deſpight of the Court of Parliament, as he hath done; and further he hath ſent the Marquis de Quemere Ambaſſadour to Rome, in the Kings name, to ſolicite their reeſtabliſhment in Venice. The Ieſuites in recompence promiſed him, that they would aide him in all things and in every place, and that they would in ſuch ſort obtaine his Holineſſe good will towards them, that hee ſhould be favourable unto them during their uſurpation; and that neither the Pope nor they would exclame in any ſort againſt the bad dealing which they ſhould offer unto the Queene mother: and it is certaine that his Holineſſe never wrote any thing thereof, neither makes any complant againſt the inſolencies of thoſe Favorites. On the contrary, the Nuncius Bentivole reſident in Paris, is wholy for Luynes, who hath made him Cardinall, and Comprotector of the French nation in Rome, to the prejudice of the Prince Cardinall of Savoy, to whom the King had given that protection. Thus Luynes is upholden on that ſide. And to the end that the King of Spaine ſhould not be offended to ſee the Queene his ſiſter governed by Luynes and his wife, he hath conſented to let him lay hold upon the Griſons, the Palatinate and Iuliers, which is under the protection of France, and which the Queene mother following your deſigne, hath kept out of the Spaniards clawes; whereas on the contrary, that villaine ſuffers ſo important a country bordering upon the Realme, to be loſt. He hath alienated 120000 crowns yearely rent of the Church, whereof he hath imburſed 200000 crownes for his part: of your ſonnes revenues, he and his brethren poſſeſſe at the leaſt 500000 franks yearely rent, without disburſing one penie for it.

How this diſcourſe grieves me, ſaid the King, I would you had neuer ſpoken to me thereof, let us leave for this time; here comes the Duke de Mayenne, and a great number of Noblemen to viſit me. All theſe, ſaid the Marquis de Termes, will confirme that which I have ſaid unto your Majeſtie, and you may know of them what hath paſt ſince I left them at Clerac.

The Duke de Mayenne coming neare with all his companie, made humble obeyſance to the King; and his Majeſtie bowing his head, welcomed them with teares in his eyes: Couſin, ſaid the King, and all you my faithfull ſervants, it grieves me that you have bin deceived by three villaines, who, as I heare, untill this time have abuſed the favour and bountie of my ſonne, and generally your free ſpirits. The Duke ſpeaking for them all, ſaid, Sir, I know not who hath made your Grace ſo wel acquainted with the pride of thoſe three Falconers, that have uſed all the meanes they can, to put all men both great and meane out of the King your ſonnes favour by their devices, ſold all France by their covetouſnes, and brought all the realm into diſorder by their monſtrous ambition. All men know how litle cauſe I have to ſpeake wel of the Marquis d' Ancre, but I may well ſay, that he was an Angell in reſpect of theſe three divels incarnate, enemies both to men and all valour, and ſuch as never employed them but to their overthrow: all they that have paſt over the river with me, know what they are; beſides that for mine owne part I have every way tried and proved their divelliſh malice in that reſpect. It is true, that Marquis d' Ancre was wicked as wel as they, but yet he had ſome humanitie in him, he did good to many, hee was a man of his word, if hee croſt ſome great perſons, he made much of others: but theſe three plagiaries have bin a ſcourge to them all, thinking it a glory by their diſſembling ſalutations to deceive all the world with brazen faces. I will not trouble your Majeſtie with the rehearſall of their deteſtable actions, nor put you in minde of the rude dealing that they have ſhewed to the Queene your wife, neither how they have ſcorned my Lord the Prince, nor of their ingratitude againſt my Lady the Counteſſe, nor what trickes they have played with all the Nobilitie: it ſuffiſeth, Sir, that you generally know their proud proceedings, they have fully gotten the government of the King your ſon and of the authoritie royall into their hands, making him beleeve, that they three onely held the Crowne upon his head, as if thoſe of his blood had conſpired the uſurpation thereof. For the ſpace of foure yeares they have cauſed all the affaires of importance to paſſe under their hands; they have made the King march with them in all places for their owne particular intereſt; vpon the frontiers of the Realme Luynes hath bin ſo proud as to make his entrie into townes, accompanied with a Prince of the blood, and in rhe preſence of the King his Soveraigne; he ſent his brother Cadnet into Flanders, under pretence to go ſeeke his wife, where he ſpake with Marquis Spinola; and after that, with a moſt incomparable pride, covered with precious ſtones appertaining to the Crowne, he hath bene in England, not one of the Kings Councell knowing the ſecret of his embaſſage; after that voyage he undertooke to make himſelfe Duke of Britaigne; and it is not knowne whether ſince he hath bin keeper of the Seales, hee hath diſpatched letters patents for the ſame. In favour of Caſtille he hath neglected all ancient alliances of the Crown; he hath ſuffered the Palatinate and the Griſons to be loſt, to make the Spaniard favourable to him. The Queene mother preſerved Iuliers, under the protection of the King your ſonnes forces, and thoſe three villaines have ſuffered it to be beſieged by Spinola. To the diſgrace of your glorious memorie, Branthe a meane fellow, that never had 200 franks yearely rent, hath bin ſo audacious as to raviſh the heire of Luxeburg, and to force that yong Princeſſe being but eleuen yeares old, and at ſuch a time when all France was in armes by their meanes; and if the raviſhing of a maide be puniſhable, as it is, her action in all circumſtances is much more puniſhable. Luynes hath expoſed the King and the Prince his brother into the inconveniences of a long voyage, and into the perils of the bad aire in the armie, in ſuch maner that the Prince was there ſick and like to die, and yet he would not ſuffer him to be carried out of the infections of the campe: he hath reſolved upon the warre againſt the Huguenots, without taking, yea and againſt the advice of your old Councellers: hee hath bin ſo audacious as to keepe the Kings ſeales in his hands, to promiſe them to many, but gives them to no man, buſying himſelfe during the dangers of the ſiege before Montauban, with ſealing expeditions, in ſtead of going to the warre, for which cauſe the ſouldiers made theſe foure verſes of him: What ſhall we of this valiant Warrier ſay, That vſeth vs like ſlaves both night and day? He that in peace the Conſtables office hie, And in warre doth the Chancellers place ſupplie. In ſuch maner, that if there be any capitall crime that may be objected againſt a bad ſervant, that is one of the moſt notorious and greateſt. All the mony appointed for paying of the ſouldiers in the armie, he ſtayed in Blayes, in ſuch ſort, that more ſouldiers have died of want and neceſſitie, then of wounds, for want of reliefe. To be ſhort, their covetouſnes and villanies are the cauſe of all the bad ſucceſſe hapned as wel during that ſiege as in other publicke affaires. That which I finde to be moſt ſtrange, ſaid Balagny, is, that not one of them hath bin hurt in any of the exploits of their conqueſts. I will ſhew you a pertinent reaſon for that, ſaid the Duke, it is becauſe they neuer ſought after blowes, and blowes never met with them; and that is it which Luynes Surgeon wrote to his wife, that was in doubt leſt her husband was ſlaine in the armie: Wife, take no care for me, but be quiet, & feare nothing, for I incurre no danger, my Lord Conſtable doth me that honour to affect me much, and to keep ſtill neare unto his perſon. Thus you ſee how thoſe gallants are miraculouſly preſerved and kept out of the danger of blowes, while they cauſe others to loſe their lives.

Our poſteritie, ſaid the King, will hardly beleeue, that men of no degree, and voide of all valour, ſhould in ſo ſhort a time lay hold upon the government of France. Sir, ſaid Pluninel, I did neuer ſo eaſily with bit and bridle manage your Graces great horſes in the ſtable, (without compariſon) as I have ſeene them manage all the Princes of your Realme.

What, ſaid the Marſhall de Briſac, was not Cadnet ſo bold as to threaten the Prince, that he ſhould not go out of Bois de Vincennes, if he did not conſent to give him the Princeſſe of Orange to be his wife, who died for griefe thereof? You ieſt, ſaid the King. He hath done more then that, ſaid he, for he was ſo preſumptuous as to preſſe the Earle de Soyſſons to give over the office of high Steward unto him. The late Earle taking the word out of his mouth, ſaid, If my ſonne had bin wiſe, he ſhould have cauſed him to be well beaten for his impudencie. You haue reaſon, ſaid old Courtenay, if he had Rambure, or ſuch another Knight as he for his governer, but he hath a blocke to be his ſchoole-maſter, that knowes not what belongs to honour and courage; and therefore thoſe companions know with whom they have to do.

Let us enter into ſome other diſcourſe, ſaid the King; as I remember, one of you told me, that during all theſe buſineſſes, Luynes and his brethren carried their wives with them unto the warre, and that they were with them during the important ſiege of Montauban; if it were ſo, it is very likely that their intent was no other but onely to make their battery under curtains. At that word M. William gave a nod, and ſaid to the King, Indeed my Lord, you have often bin told, that they play the Kings, and that I acknowledge, they have heretofore ſitting by the fire heard how you in times paſt rid upon the League, and thoſe gallants would imitate you, and thinke by riding their wives, to ride upon the Huguenots: but thoſe wicked heretickes have knaviſhly ridden upon them before Montauban. Whereat all of them began to laugh. But the King enquired of the miracle of the Spie, and much deſired to know it, and ſpeaking thereof, askt, why, after he had eſcaped in ſuch maner, he was not ſent into the Towne, to convert the inhabitants. Faith of a gentleman, ſaid de Loppe, that had bin no ſafetie for him, for ſo the people might have hangd him up in good earneſt. God is ſtrong every where, ſaid the King, and can defend thoſe that are his, at all times and in all places: but tell me who ſent father Dominicke de Ieſus Maria into France? what maner of man is he? And it pleaſe your Majeſtie, ſaid the Earle de Fiefque, he is a holy man, I yet have a portatiſe cloake that he gave me; your Majeſtie will not beleeve what honour the Pariſians did unto him, and yet know not wherefore; every woman cut off a peece of his gowne; and he came thither onely to ſhew us that all the Spaniards are not Saracins, and that there are ſome holy men among them. If I had bin of the Kings Councell, ſaid the Abbot du Bois, I would in counter-change have ſent father Berule to Madril, I am ſure that the women of Castile would alſo have cut his fuſtian. That were good, ſaid the Marſhall de Fervaques, if French cloth were as fine as Spaniſh cloth; but if I were of the Councell, as the Cardinall de Rets is, and as forward as the Earle de Chomberg, (who is capable to redreſſe all Luynes faults, ſo that he doth not joyne with forreine faction) I would make the Spaniard know, that he is not a better Catholik then I my ſelfe am, and would keepe him from having ſecret intelligences with our Favorites, to the great detriment of the Kings ſervice and the Realme, which goes to decay, if remedy be not ſpeedily had therein.

I confeſſe, ſaid the King, that ſince I have heard of all the bad and perfidious practiſes which that gallant and his brethren have done and performed, my ſon never knowing thereof, my ſpirit hath bin in continuall perplexitie, fearing leſt they ſhould deſtroy their good maiſter and great benefactor. Sir, ſaid the Marquis de Villars, the earth never bare more traiterous and ambitious villaines then they are; they have bin ſo bold the laſt yeare to cauſe a Maske to be made in Burbon hall, wherein they preſented divers myſticall figures, and among the reſt, a great Lady and divers Giants chained, whom Luynes apparelled like Phebus, drew after him, whereof the greateſt reſembled the Duke de Mayenne, upon whoſe head Luynes ſet his foote, for a ſigne of ſervitude. Truly, ſaid the Baron de Plancy, he made another more impudent in the Caſtle of Piquerox, for there perceiving the King to be grieved for the loſſe he had received by the death of the Duke de Mayenne, he deviſed a litle Comedie to make his Majeſtie merrie, wherein hee preſented a great Moore making divers ſtrange jeſtures; and for that he reſembled the Duke de Mayenne, the King commanded them to leave and act no more. Why? ſaid Luynes. Becauſe, ſaid the King, that this man in all reſpects reſembles the Duke de Mayenne; I cannot endure to ſee it. Truly Sir, ſaid he, his death needs not miniſter cauſe of ſadneſſe to your Majeſtie, for he was a turbulent fellow, that troubled all your affaires; you were no King as long as he lived; we haue diſcovered and found out that he made a third partie, and ſince his death we have found all his practiſes.

Thus this villaine alwayes ſought to divert all the good opinion that his Majeſtie had of his ſervants, and of all thoſe of his blood. He did another matter, ſaid the Secretarie of State for the Seales, he was ſo impudent as to write vnto the Pope, that the Queen mother was the cauſe that Montauban was not taken, thereby thinking to cover his owne cowardlineſſe; from whence it may be conjectured how many falſe reports he hath made to the king your ſonne, ſeeing he was ſo bold to ſend ſuch a meſſage to his Holineſſe. You ſhall never have done Sir, ſaid the Earle de Lude, if you will hearken unto all their arrogant actions, who knowes them better then my ſelfe that brought them up? as long as any of that race are neare about the King your ſonne, they will ſpoile all, there being no kind of wickednes whereof they are not capable: and aboue all things beleeve it, Sir, my Lord the Prince may well offer a great candle unto God when he ſhall eſcape out of their hands; your Majeſtie muſt foreſee theſe things.

As the King was diſcourſing with the Lords touching the ſorrowfull ſtate of the affaires of France, and about the meanes to remedie the ſame, all the aſſiſtants partaking with the griefe of that good Prince, on a ſudden Monſieur de Vury breaking through the preaſe came to his Majeſtie, and to comfort him, ſaid, Corbien Sir, you have ſufficiently lamented the miſeries of the time, I muſt now make you merry a while, by telling you that which I preſently ſaw: as I was hawking after a partridge along by the river ſide, by chance I came to as merrie a combat as ever was acted upon the Theater de Tabarim in the place Dauphine. Betweene whom ſaid the King. Your Majeſtie muſt know, ſaid Vitry, that Marſhall d' Ancre walking along by the river ſide with Dole, when Charon ſet on ſhore the new Conſtable of France, with his ſword of ſay.

What, ſaid the King, is he here? Corbien ſaid he, he is there, I aſſure your Grace, I haue ſeene him, and when I ſaw him, I laught for ioy, he hath the countenance of as notable a raſcall as ever I ſaw. But before I proceed further, I muſt tell you of the pleaſant ſalutation of theſe two combattants: Marſhall d' Ancre walking as I ſaid before, ſtood ſtill to contemplate the proud geſtvre of that new come gueſt, and beholding his face, he knew it was Luynes; wherewith ſuddenly the blood roſe in his face, and he ſaid to Dole, Behold the traitor that cauſed me to be kild, I will now kill him; and without ſpeaking any more words, caſting his cloake over his face, went to meet with him; and as ſoone as he got to him, he gave him a great bob on the noſe, ſaying, Traitor, now Ile make thee pay for thy villanie. The Conſtable abaſht thereat, ſaid, You are deceived, you miſtake me for another, I underſtand no Italian. Pardieus, I undeſtand French well. Lay hand on thy ſword, ſaid the Marquis. Are not ſingle combats forbidden here, ſaid the Conſtable? Villaine, ſaid the Marquis, thou art afraid; and ſaying ſo, he fell upon the Conſtable, and gave him divers great blowes with the flat ſide of his ſword, in ſuch maner, that never any curtall jade was ſo well beaten. The Archbiſhop of Sens that ſtood hard by them, had a great deſire to helpe him, but he durſt not go betweene them, ſtill remembring the blowes with ſpits which were given him in Tours by the Marquis de Noirmontiers cookes, when he was Soliciter of his houſe; and ſo for want of aide, the villanous Conſtable was as well beaten as ever was Dieret Chiury, when he imagined that the blowes with a cudgell which were given him, were piſtols ſhot: for Marquis d' Ancre ſtill laid on like Rovillac, and Luynes cried out as loud as he could, like Ronſſelay. at S. Germains Fayre: which was the cauſe that Radamanthus Lackeys ran thither, and laid hold upon thoſe two champions, intending to carry them before the ludge to be puniſhed for their inſolencies.

Marquis d' Ancre alledged that he was not the man that firſt brake the peace, and ſpake them ſo faire, that they let him go; in the meane time du Travail came thither, who fiercely laid hold on the Conſtables coller, in ſuch maner that I thought he would have ſtrangled him; but when he had ſet his foote vpon his belly, and taken his ſword from him, he ran away, leaving him there in a maner halfe dead, ſaying nothing to him, but onely, Remember thy ſelfe Provinciall. I that tooke pitie to ſee that Rodomond favorite ſo hardly uſed, found the meanes, that without taking the advice of de Modenne or de Contade, I puld him ſlily out of their clawes, and brought the gallant hither to make your Maieſtie ſome ſport. Truly, ſaid the King, you have done me good ſervice, let him come in, that we may ſee that great Warrier and great Statesman all in one. Whereupon Colonell Galatis with a das tich Gods ſacrament, cauſed the preaſe to open, and therewith Vitry brought him in, every man as well as he could fixing their eyes upon him to behold his phyſiognomie. The Poet Deſportes at his entring, giving him a welcome according to his Art, and ſpeaking aloud, ſaid: Give place, give place to this companion, Who while he liv'd was like a great Monarchus: But being borne in Champianion, In Poiteiou he was cut off by Parcus. Being in the middle of the companie, all of them began to crie, ſaying, The fox, the fox, wherewith you never ſaw villaine more aſhamed; and after ſilence was made, the King askt him, who he was, I am, ſaid he, the Conſtable of France, your moſt humble ſubiect and ſervant. Conſtable? ſaid the King; by what title got you that office? it is not aboue foure yeares ſince you were but a Falconer, and in ſo ſhort a time have you attained to ſo high a degree? you have made great haſte. You muſt not muſe thereat, Sir, ſaid Haeren, if hee had not put me out of countenance, I had had as good fortune as he. Hold your tongue, ſaid the King. Parmafe, and it pleaſe your Maieſtie, ſaid M. William, I could be well content to pay his breech with a whip full of points to be revenged on him for the penſion that he tooke from me, to give it unto de Mons his brother in law. Truly M. William, ſaid Saroque, you are miſinformed to beleeve ſuch things, my Lord Conſtable was not ſo fooliſh to imagine that he could make that ſmall matter of Province greater then it is, notwithſtanding that he is the moſt valiant man of them all, for he alone tooke Montauban, or elſe they of Montauban tooke him. What extravagant words are 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 theſe, ſaid the King? give us leave quietly to hearken unto the myſticall diſcourſe of this new conquerour. Sir, ſaid the Duke de Mayenne, he will but abuſe you with words, he is a perfect lyer, command him to go directly to the matter, otherwiſe I cannot abſtain from giving him a blow on the lips at the firſt lie he makes. With that the King turning to the champion, ſaid briefly unto him, Heare you my Lord Conſtable made in haſte, abuſe not my leiſure, tell me all your notable proceedings, without diſſimulation, if you deſire to finde mercie at my hands for your miſdeeds: all theſe gentlemen know your actions, and the Earle de Lude that ſtands here, is wholy acquainted with your life, go directly to worke, otherwiſe you ſhall finde Lugoly ready to give you your hire.

Sir, ſaid Luynes, now I perceive well that I am undone, In manus tuas commendo ſpiritum meum, my proceſſe is made, and further all theſe noble gentlemen that are here, will never pardon me, for that as many Lords as are here about your Majeſty, are as many witneſſes to convince me of all the perfidious actions that I have committed both againſt the one and the other, and the worſt is, that I haue not the authoritie Royall to cover my faults any more, nor to ſupport my inſolencies; I muſt needs confeſſe, that I haue offended God, the King my maſter, and all men, and that there is no puniſhment great enough to recompence my deſerts: but I will gladly ſay with Caeſar, Si violandum eſt ius, regnandi cauſa; all that I haue done, was not effected by any wicked inclination that was in me, but onely by a generous ambition to raigne. I knew how eaſily Marquis d' Ancre obtained the government of the State, I beleeved and was verily perſwaded, that in that point I could doe more then a ſtranger, that onely had a woman to ſupport him, and that I poſſeſſing the Kings heart, was the more able to diſpoſſeſſe all men, and to poſſeſſe all things: for my deſigne was to ſurmount that Italian; and if any of my good friends ſought to divert me from that generous enterpriſe, preſently du Agent, Contade and Ronſſelay, cried out in mine eares, ſaying, What are you afraid of? If Marquis d' Ancre could make the Frenchmen cullions, why ſhould not you being a great Falconer take them for birds? Audaces fortuna invat, ſaid my father in law; we muſt draw water when we are at the well ſide, ſaid my wife; we are of the ſame kind of wood whereof men make Princes, ſaid my brethren; and I ſaid Modene, of the ſame that the Marſhals of France are made. All theſe motions encouraged me, and in truth my firſt bringing up to fowling taught me ſo well to flie, that in foure yeares ſpace I ſurpaſt all thoſe that medled with the affaires of State before me.

I cauſed Marquis d' Ancre to be kild, to haue his place; I vrged the Parliament to put his wife to death, that I might haue his goods. I kept the Queene mother as much as I could from the preſence and favour of the King her ſonne, that I might onely enioy it. I kept the Prince of Conde priſoner, and let him not come forth, but then when I thought he could no more hurt me, and that he might ſerve my turne. I vſed charmes to trouble the ſpirit of the King and of the Queene, employing Boiſgandrie to that effect, whom I cauſed to be committed priſoner in the Baſtile, becauſe he would have diſcloſed me. I ſet diviſion among the Princes, and eſtranged them all from the Kings favour. I abuſed all thoſe that had any thing to do with me, with promiſes and faire words. All places that were voide, I got into my hands. With the Kings mony I bought all the governments that I could get; and conſtrained ſome to yeeld theirs unto me. I had whole Provinces under my obedience; there is no part of the Realme, but therein I have townes. I have drawne France drie of mony. The greateſt part of the Kings domaines is mine, or my brethrens. I did abſolutely diſpoſe of the ſale of offices; and as I diſanulled the annuall right, I alſo eſtabliſhed it. I made all mine enemies ſtoupe, and as much as I could, I made all the world know what power I had over the genius of the King, that men might addreſſe themſelves vnto me, and be perſwaded that the King could do nothing without me. This, Sir, is that whereof I may be accuſed: but he that will conſider of that which reſteth, without paſſion, he ſhall finde that theſe are not actions of a dull ſpirit, but of a brave courage, which rather deſerve commendation then blame, and for the which I was never reproved by my Confeſſor.

Marquis d' Ancre could never equalize himſelfe with me in this reſpect; his deſignes were baſe in regard of mine; he could not attaine to any degree, but onely to be Marſhall of France, and I for my part made at leaſt twelve Marſhals. He could neither make himſelfe Knight of the Order of the holy Ghoſt, nor Duke; and all you my Lords that are here know well, that I gaue that Order to whom I would, and that I made more Dukes then there are ſparrow-hawkes in the Kings Mewes, and ſo many, that the Parliament of Paris was forced to ſay, it was too much. But thoſe foure cornerd caps know not, that my intent was to extirpe the heretickes; and that for ſo dangerous a warre I had need of many Dukes, Marſhals and Knights, to honour the Conſtables ſword which I reſerved for my ſelfe, by the Ieſuites counſel, and his Holineſſe himſelfe, who aſſured me by his Nuncius, that if I undertooke that Catholicke deſigne, that heauen would reſerve the diademe and the purple for me, as in effect I wanted not the latter; and if I had not bin conſtrained to leaue the ſiege before that curſed towne of Montauban, the accompliſhment of deſtinie had given me the Scepter.

I doubt not, Sir, but you haue bin entertained with a thouſand ieſts touching the impertinent proceedings of my militarie exploits, and ſpecially upon the ſubiect of my approches made before ville Burbon. I take not upon me to defend my ſelfe againſt bad ſpeeches, it ſufficeth me that my actions ſeemed to be heroicall, and my deſignes haughtie. Further, I care li ••… e what the world can ſay, and that is it which I wrote for an anſwer to a letter ſent us by our moſt deare vncle the Duke de Modene in France, touching the ſlanders that were publiſhed in Toulouſe againſt me and my qualitie; I could eaſily haue reſtrained and puniſhed the libertie of ſuch tongues, but like an old Courtier, I uſe not to be afraid of reports, as I made it well appeare in the ſtrongeſt aſſaults of the ſiege before that filthy towne, where I refrained not from ſleeping ſweetly in my bed, notwithſtanding the roaring of the cannons, upon the aſſurance that I had that they could not hurt me. Did not the ſouldiers call my quarter, the place of villanie? but for all that I never made leſſe cheare. They alſo mockt my wife as often as ſhe came to viſit me in the campe, in mockery ſaying, that ſhe went oftener to combat with me, then I did with the enemie: but ſuch reproches moved me not, ſeeing that my wife and I had no other intent but to do well, as we alwayes did well, thankes be to God; and beleeue me, Sir, that thoſe malicious evill ſpeakers ſpake but of envie, as grieved to ſee us take our pleaſures, while they were at blowes, and by the eares together in the trenches like raſcals, ſuffering themſelves to be beaten, which made them vomit out their rage, not onely againſt me, but alſo againſt my brethren and their wives, who like true Amazons never fainted in all the combats wherein they happened to be, encouraged thereunto by the wiſe diſcourſes of Madame de Guimbarde and of my ſiſter du Vernet the true mirrour of chaſtitie, of whom I learned never to be angry for that which men ſaid, ſo I do well. This alſo that I ſhew you, Sir, is not to give you cauſe to thinke that ſuch things grieved me not much, but onely to make my great patience, my exceeding bountie, the force of my ſpirit, and the gentleneſſe of my courage apparent. Who but my ſelfe (except the Duke de Vzes) would not haue ſunke under the burthen of the continual watchings and paines which I endured in the conduction of this warre? Like another Atlas, I was forced to beare all the burthen of the Realme vpon my ſhoulders, ordaine all, provide for all, reſolve upon all, and beſides that was charged not onely with the affaires of the Realme, but alſo with Gods cauſe, which particularly was to be reſpected in that holy enterpriſe, as father Arnoux aſſured me, and the holy Earle of Fiaſque that ſtands there, who oftentimes told me in my eares, that it was revealed unto him when hee was a Capucin, which was the cauſe that made him leave the habit, once againe to employ his ſword, and weare temporal apparell, and for my particuler that was the cauſe that made me imbarke my ſelfe therein, with ſo much more zeale as I ſaw the ſucceſſe to be eaſie, the conqueſt glorious, and the ſpoiles profitable for my glorie.

What better beginning could your Maieſtie have wiſhed, then the firſt progreſſe of our victories? Blinde Morney at our firſt arrivall did obedience unto us; we did rigorouſly puniſh the rebellion of thoſe of S. Iohn; we powred our curſe upon Pons; we caſt the arrowes of our anger upon Clerac, where we had that good lucke to rid our ſelves of that brave Marquis de Termes, upon which ſubiect father Arnoux and I wrote two comfortable letters to Monſieur le Grand in moſt eloquent maner. In every place they brought us the keyes of the townes. They of Toulonze came in great haſte to offer us their armes and their lives, with a good ſumme of money, to move us in all haſte to beſiege that execrable towne of Montauban, which at my firſt arivall I thought to take with a lure, like a hungrie ſparrow-hawke; and I wil confidently tell your Maieſtie, that I had determined to have erected it in a Duchie for my ſonne, as to ſeale the letters patents my ſelfe, with an addition of the Earledomes of Armagnac and Albert; that was the cauſe that I could not conſent to the ruine of the brave fortifications of that place, deſiring to make uſe of them for my ſelfe. And to miniſter ſome comfort to thoſe of Toulouſe for their mony which I had ſent to the Caſtle of Blaye, I and my brethren had deviſed to take the Hugonet throne out of their feete, and to place another Catholicke therein, which we had happily done, if thoſe of Montauban would have beleeved us, or at leaſt have ſuffered us to do as la Faydeau.

To conclude, Sir, what have I not done to have an honorable iſſue of that miſerable ſiege, all the inventions in the world were there put in practiſe. What have I not promiſed to the third and fourth? What can men reproch me of, but onely that I was not at the trenches? Alas, it was my onely deſire not to ſtirre; but theſe gentlemen here preſent know, that it ws impoſſible for me, in reſpect of the continuall employments that I had about the Seales. I truſted touching the warre, to the generoſitie of this valiant Duke de Mayenne, whom we have thereby cauſed to ſee the ioyes of Paradiſe, and in recompence thereof he hath made us heires of that hee left in the camp.

It is true, that to lure the world like a hawke, we cauſed the government of Guyenne to fall into the Prince the Kings brothers hands, but I would never ſeale his letters patents for the ſame, that he might ſtill be like Lent, and my brother Branthe like Shrovetide, that is, Lent taking her beginning. Thus we made our profit a thouſand ways, by the hurt and diſgrace of others. If we had a care of our owne lives, we had no leſſe of the ſoldiers; having ſought as much as poſſibly we might, all gentle meanes and practiſes to overcome thoſe rebels, before we would proceed unto extremities.

Did not I with great care and diligence cauſe father Dominicke de Ieſus Maria to come into the armie, beleeving that his holy prayers would make the taking of that place the more eaſie, and that he would make a ſecond S. Bartholmewes day of the Huguenots in Paris. And if he hath thought much to doe as much for France before Montauban, as he did for Spaine before Prague, I could not do withall; I did the beſt I could to keep him there, that his preſence might animate the ſouldiers, and convert thoſe headſtrong heretickes, which father Arnoux a true ſpirituall mirror did not well like of, alledging that it was ſufficient to have one Charlatan in the Court, in the meane time all is laid upon me, although I am innocent of the unfortunate ſucceſſe of the ſiege.

What ſhall I ſay more, did I not invent a ſubtill ſtratageme, therewith to mollifie the hearts of thoſe rebels, that is the miraculous hanging of that villanous ſpie, that brake the rope three times upon the gallowes? nevertheles they within the towne, as alſo a great part of the armie, would not beleeve that miracle, becauſe he rather commended himſelfe to our Lady of Monferrat in Spaine, then to the good Lady de Lieſſe in France. Further, my brethren and I made proviſion of a great number of inviſible regiments, but it was reported that we would put them into our owne purſes, whereas our deſigne was to ſerve our turnes with them, to caſt them inviſibly into the towne, thereby to take it the eaſier. And if we failed therein, I am no more the cauſe thereof, then of the raine and ſickneſſe which continually troubled the ſoldiers, and which made an end of ſetting us forth. No, Sir, I cannot warrant men againſt the works of God, no more then I can from thoſe which are imputed unto me, by meanes of my ambition and villanie; but if I had lived a litle longer, I would haue made all the world ſee and perceiue that I intended to be a ſouldier.

I confeſſe that I was but a new beginner in the Art, when I made my ſelfe Conſtable, and that I had never ſeene ſiege nor battell, but I was reſolved this Winter to learne the military Art with all perfection, in ſtead of practiſing to dance. The Baron de Caban, otherwiſe called de Maine, having promiſed me in three moneths ſpace to make me as good a Captain as himſelf, who of a Muſition in two yeares became a great warrier, whatſoever the Marſhall de Roquelauere ſaid, who in deſpight that I employed him in the ſiege of Monheur, ſware, cap de Bions, that he would not go to the warre with a Muſition: and being taught by ſo good a maiſter, this Spring time I wold have paid thoſe of Montauban, but God did prevent me in all my deſignes.

Truly, ſaid the King, your diſcourſes are notable, but your actions are not much worth, ſuch men as you are alwayes puniſhed by the hand of God; get you away out of my preſence, and let me ſee you no more.

After that, the King taking the advice of his old ſervants, ordained, that as Luynes had plaid with great perſonages in his life time, he would haue him ſerve to make them ſport after his death, and therefore appointed him to carrie fourmes every time that they ran at the Ring, or with their Lances; and to begin his prentiſeſhip, that he ſhould be delivered into the hands of the Duke de Mayennes pages.

According to this decree he was preſently laid hold on, who then ſpeaking to the Cardinall de Guiſe, ſhewed him that he died without confeſſion and receiving of the Sacrament, praying him to give him abſolution for his ſins.

To whom do you ſpeake, ſaid the Cardinall? do you not know that I am no Prieſt? Then he turned to the Biſhop of Marſelles, to whom he made the like requeſt. And he made him the like anſwer that the Cardinall had done, adding further & ſaying, Before you went out of the other world you ſhould have cauſed your ſelfe to be abſolved by the Cardinall de Rets your creature, or rather by the Biſhop of Luſſon your kinſman, hee would never have denied you his bleſſing, notwithſtanding that you put him beſide the Cardinals hat, ſo you had promiſed him upon the ſecuritie of Marillac and le Seq. to abſtaine from making pernicious reports unto the King, thereby to alienate the good will which his Maieſtie beareth to the Queene his mother; as for me, I cannot helpe you, ſave your ſelfe as well as you can. With that the late Marſhall de Rets went to Luynes, and ſpeaking unto him in his eare, ſaid, Alas poore foole, thou ſhouldſt have pluckt the gooſe without crying like me; if with humilitie thou haſt honored the great perſonages, they would have upholden thee, and thou hadſt enioyed thy fortunes with ſecuritie. Then turning his head here and there about him, hee perceived the late Earle de Lude, which three times he called his good maiſter, of whom hee aſked pardon for the ducale perfidiouſnes which he offered unto him being in Touraine. Then he ſaid to the Biſhop of Carcaſſone, Monſieur my good benefactor, if ever you tooke pitie on the affliction of a miſerable perſon, I coniure you to take the paines to advertiſe my brethren to take example by me, that they may governe themſelves more wiſely then I have done, if they deſire to eſcape the ſhipwracke that I have endured, and before all things that they ſuffer not my bodie to paſſe through Paris, leſt it ſhould receive the ſame entertainment that the body of the Marquis d' Ancre had.

As he ſpake thoſe laſt words, Loſieres Themines ſonne came unto him, and ſaid, Comfort your ſelfe in your miſfortunes, your brethren labour for their conſervation, they yeeld not themſelves, I bring you great ſtore of news, you are not the Keeper of the Seales, Monſieur de Virg hath your place: all ſhall go well, it ſeemes that he & his are in ſome ſort bound to ſupport your houſe; but if the chance ſhould turne, I adviſe you in good time that I will be ſuretie no longer. Further, ſince your departure, the King hath benignely entertained all his friends, and looketh on his ſervants with a kinde countenance; there is free acceſſe unto his Maieſtie, he goes every day to ſit with the Councell; I could tell you more, but I muſt go to ſalute the King; farewell, and remember that for want of balme they have your body with long barks of trees.

The Pages that as then layd hold on the necke and breeches of their apprentice, would ſuffer him to ſpeake no more, every one of them teaching him a leſſon as they thought good. The Pariſians never tooke greater pleaſure to ſee the Marquis d' Ancres body drawne about the citie, then all the ſpirits in the Elizian fields had to ſee that brave Conſtable ſo inſtructed and taught by thoſe good ſchoole-maſters, who in leſſe then an houres ſpace made him a martyr at leaſt twentie times, and yet kild him not. To conclude, du Bourdet brought him a writing to ſet vpon his backe, containing theſe words: Long be this apprentice lived, Whoſe ſpirit hath not deceived The hope of our progenitors: He is fit for a Porter, without doubt, And in ſhort time it will fall out, He will be capable to teach his brothers.

The iudgement given, all the Lords tooke their leave of the King, and as they returned with Zamet their guide, the Marquis de Termes eſpied a man that ſate writing vnder a great olive tree: wherewith hee asked, if in that country there were any Sollicitors or Attourneys, that lived by pleading other mens cauſes. None at all, ſaid Zamet. What then, ſaid he, doth this writer here? And going neare unto him, they knew it was Marſhall de Beron, who was ſo earneſtly ſtudying, that he thought upon nothing elſe. De Termes ſeeing him to be in that humour, went ſoftly behind him, after the maner of great perſonages in the Court, and laid his hand upon his ſhoulder. Wherewith the Marſhall in great choler, ſaid, What is he that toucheth me? and looking backe, ſaw the Marquis. Wherewith changing his choler into gladneſſe, he embraced him friendly, asking him, if he were one of thoſe gentlemen of Montauban. No, ſaid de Termes, I am of Clerac. What in Gods name make you here? ſaid the Marſhall. And what goodly paſſion, ſaid de Termes, raviſheth you into ſuch an extaſie? Cap de Bions, ſaid he, I was in a deepe humour of Poetrie, and was ſtudying to make verſes for an Epitaph to be ſet vpon your tombes.

What, are you a Poet, ſaid de Termes? No, ſaid Biron, but there being no warre in this country, ſometimes I have a conceit to paſſe the time in Poetry, like my Lady de Roſau. I pray you then, ſaid de Termes, let us ſee ſomething of your doing, as well as my Lady d'Entragues. Pardions I am content, ſaid the Marſhall, I was but beginning; ſee here is that which I have done; I pray you tell me truly whether I have done it fitly or no, and heare it without paſſion.

Truly, ſaid de Termes, you uſe us unworthily. Morbions, ſaid the Marſhall, what, do I not ſay the truth? Are you not great fooles, that ſuffered your ſelves to be ſlaine for a companie of daſtards that ſerve their owne turnes, under pretence of religion, to eſtabliſh their future greatneſſe at your coſts and charges. Cap de Bions, what blowes with my ſword would I have laid about their eares, if I had bin in their places. Monſieur d'Eſpernon is a ſubtill Catholik, he beſieged Rochell afarre off, and upon Pont neuf there were more overthrowes given by him, then by any other in France; but tell me, I pray you, are not the Ieſuites aſhamed that they preacht againſt him during the league, in their pulpits calling him Aſtarot and Arch-hereticke, and yet in the meane time they muſt confeſſe, that at this day he is one of the pilars of the faith, although he be the ſame that he was, were they exclaimed againſt his perſon, onely that in thoſe times he was none of the companie, as he is at this preſent. Mafoy, ſaid the Marquis, I muſt confeſſe that Mouſieur d'Eſpernon is a Mathos, and one that can manage his affaires better then any other in the Court; it is true that Luynes hath given him many bad nights, but the fathers have recompenced all that.

While theſe things paſt, the King withdrew himſelfe into his chamber, where having wept long time for the griefe that he had for the miſeries of France, praying unto God to divert the ſtormes thereof from it; he calld for his moſt confident ſervants, with whom he conferred touching the diſorders of the Realme, and then ſaid with a loud voice, God helpe the bountie of my ſonne, and give him grace ſpeedily to roote out the pernicious factions of ſuch Favorites. Now I am truly informed of the lamentable affaires, into the extremitie whereof his Crowne is plunged, I can ſpeake pertinently with the experience that I have of things paſt.

This then is that which me thinkes the King my ſonne ſhould do, as well for his owne preſervation, as for the tranquillitie of his ſubiects. Firſt, he ought to reſpect thoſe that give him good counſell, which is the ſoule of every monarchie. I am not of opinion, that he ſhould give my wife the ſole direction of his affaires; neither that my nephew the Prince of Cende ſhould have it, in that reſpect he ought to ſhun iealouſie: it is requiſite that euery one, as neare as may be, ſhould participate both in the honors and in the care, and that every one in generall ſhould contribute towards the relieving of the Flowers de Lis.

My iudgement, to prevent and withſtand the continual diſorders that have troubled France ſince my death, is, That my ſonne ſhould make a Councell, not of Favorites, but of thoſe who by blood and affection have a particular intereſt in the preſervation of his perſon and of his State. That he commit part of the managing of the State affairs, to the Queene his mother. That he ſhall hold her in good correſpondence with himſelfe, and my nephewes de Conde and de Soiſſons neare unto him. That he ſhould manage all things by order of the Councell, and with pluralitie of voices. That he ſhall referre himſelfe to the prudent advice of the old 〈◊…〉 and officers of the Crowne, that ſerved me. That he ſhall commit the ordering of his conſcience to ſome good Doctor. That he ſhould embrace the ancient Sorbonites, and put the new Tranſmontaine Theologians from him. That by litle & litle he ſhall leſſen his great charges. That he ſhall protect thoſe of his blood. That he ſhall not neglect his Parliaments. That he ſhall take Luynes lands and goods to ſupply his neceſſities, and for the comfort of the poore people. That he ſhall cauſe the citadell of Amiens to be opened on that ſide towards the Town, to prevent the inconveniences which one day that fort may cauſe, and take an Inventorie of the great riches which are in that place, as alſo in La Fere, Calais, and Blaye. That he ſhall give all the governments which the three brethren have, unto his old & faithful ſervants. That he ſhall drive all their kindred from the Court. That he ſhall by abſolute authoritie hold and maintaine the Edicts of Parliament. That he ſhall conſerve the ancient alliances of the Crowne. That he ſhall ſtop his eares againſt factious ſtrangers. That he ſhal call to mind the dangerous publick happened within theſe foure yeares within Paris, as ſignes ſent by God to warne us of the ſcourges that threaten France. That he ſhall take heed of, and ſhun civil warre, which cannot chuſe but procure the ruine of his affaires and of his people, while his neighbour ſeeks all the meanes he can to preiudice his Realme. That he muſt call to minde the Ambaſſage of Baſſompiere in Spaine, and of the breach of promiſe made touching Valtolina. That he muſt have an eye unto the deſignes of ſtrangers, who under pretence of religion, aſpire unto the diſſipation of his ſtate. That he ſhall procure peace unto his people. That he muſt recompence thoſe that deſerve it, and puniſh thoſe that are wicked. And doing ſo, God will bleſſe him, the Crowne ſhall flouriſh, his country will be enriched, his friends will love him, his ſubiects ſerve him, and his neigbours feare him.